Friday, January 02, 2009
Neck Exercise
I got this funny neck-exercise emailed to me and I must admit, I’ve used it several times. Save the image above on your desktop and remember to open it once in a while, or write up a script that will pop-up the image on your screen every hour. Another solution is to take on photography - you’ll twist your neck enough to call it a sport!
Feel free to share your methods of “geek exercise”.
(1) Comments | Filed under: Interests |
Friday, December 26, 2008
Silver Jubilee of Shaymaa
Life Lessons I’ve learned:
- You are responsible for your health.
- Keyboard shortcuts are very useful. Learn them. Use them.
- Never leave the house without a book. Reading a book at a furniture store is very relaxing.
- Just because someone doesn’t love you the way you want them to doesn’t mean they don’t love you with all they have.
- “We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.” -Randy Pausch
- Bad things do happen to good people.
- “Everybody plays the fool, sometime.” -Rudy Clark
- Be honest.
- Have faith in humanity. Believe the best of everybody.
- Heroes are people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.
- Know what you want.
- “People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.” -Chinese Proverb
- Pray.
- People deserve a second chance, but not a third.
- If you never act, you will never know for sure.
- “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” -Philo
- Disappointments. They are meant to help us grow wiser.
- “The good life is inspired by love and guided by knowledge.” -Bertrand Russell
- Credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.
- “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” -Dr. Seuss
- It’s the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary.
- “Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted.” -Randy Pausch
- Show true gratitude.
- “Dreams are illustrations… from the book your soul is writing about you.” -Marsha Norman
- “Yesterday is History, Tomorrow a Mystery, Today is a Gift, Thats why it’s called Present.”
(6) Comments | Filed under: Personal |
Friday, December 12, 2008
Tea Review
It is not a big secret among my friends that I’ve become a tea-addict! I am not an expert in teas at all, really, I just enjoy a nice cup and decided to take a moment to share my opinion on the teas I’ve tried. Feel free to share your own opinion and recommendations too!
Revolution: Chamomile Tea
My favorite tea is chamomile, and I have tried many brands but this one is different. It’s very nice and has a minty cold taste to it. First time I tried it was at Watermelon Cafe and got hooked! If you don’t like mint, or prefer to add fresh leaves, then I recommend Coffee Bean’s Chamomile & Lemon [see below].
Benefits:
- Chamomile tea boosts the immune system and fight infections associated with colds
- Chamomile tea relieves muscle spasms and menstrual cramps in women
- Chamomile tea relaxes the nerves, soothes the stomach, reduces inflammation, improves liver function, helps relieve back pain and rheumatism.
(5) Comments | Filed under: Interests |
Friday, December 05, 2008
Bahrain Tour: House of Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa
We walked out of the maze and crossed the street to the house of Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa, the Emir of Bahrain (1869-1932). It is named after the current King’s great-great grandfather, who resided here. The house was used as a residence, as well as a center of government. It is in the center of Muharrag area and is next to Sheikh Isa bin Ali Mosque. The house was built around 1800 and is one of the oldest houses built in Muharrag.
Sheikh Isa was known to be a just leader. He was fair, kind and very close to his people. Sheikh Isa set a great example for his people and led the country through all the challenges they have faced. It was a great experience for me to walk around his home and learn about Bahrain.
The tower you see in this picture is the wind tower (صفق الهواء) and was built because they did not have air conditioning. The winds would hit the walls inside the channel and bring in fresh cool air to the houses below.
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Bahrain Tour: Abdulla Al Zayed House
The Press Heritage House was originally the house of the publisher of Bahrain’s first newspaper, Abdulla Al Zayed. It has now been transformed into a small gallery showcasing important items and publications from Bahrain’s history. Although the house has been renovated, it has been kept in the same traditional design with it’s painted ceilings and stained glass windows. You can see the before/after photos in one of the albums in the House.
Abdallah Al-Zayed established Bahrain’s first newspaper (Al-Bahrain) back in 1934 and the print is on display at the gallery. There you will also find other local and regional newspapers. It was very nice and easy to read too.
This house is sponsored by His Highness Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Shaikha Mai bint Mohammad Al Khalifa and Abdulrahman Jassim Kanoo.
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Bahrain Tour: Kurar House
This house used to be a handicraft center for local crafts by women. Sponsored by Shaikha Sabeeka bint Ibraheem bin Mohammad Al Khalifa, it is now a renovated house for reproducing the unique local embroidery. There are certain days where you can find women creating theor unique embroidery on clothes and selling them too. We were able to see some of their work, and I was given a nice “shaylah” (black head scarf) embroidered with gold strings as a gift from my friend. Thank you! I love it!
Kurar House (بيت الكورار)
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Bahrain Tour: Iqra House (Children’s Library)
While I was visiting Bahrain in the past ten days, my wonderful host took me around to several places in Bahrain that I’ve never been to before. We went to Muharrag area, where the really old Bahaini houses were located. Shaikha Mai bint Mohammad Al Khaleefa, the founder of Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammad Al Khalifa Center for Culture and Research, aims to revive their heritage by renovating several houses and opening them to the public as centers for seminars, galleries and public libraries. They still look the same as they did the day they were built, except of course for the new paint, windows, and modern furniture.
- Houses:
- Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammad Al Khalifa Center for Culture and Research
- The Press Heritage House, Abdallah Al Zayed House
- House of Music, Bait Mohammad Bin Faris
- House of Poetry, Ibrahim Al Arrayed
- Iqraa House, Children’s Library
- Bait Jamsheer, for cultural exchange
- Kurar House, gold thread hand weaving/embroidery
I was fortunate to have the perfect guide, my dear friend, to show me around the houses that were open, some are still under renovation. I did get a glimpse of the new extension of Sheikh Ebrahim Autitorium and it looks wonderful! We recieved a small handbook that lists all of the upcoming events this year and I was surprised at the number of people - I did not know so much happens around here.
Our first stop as we wandered around the small pathways was the Iqra House, a small children’s library. Even though it is open to the public, I was told that the french schools near by are the ones that make great use of the place by bringing in their students to read there constantly.
The library:
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